Description:
Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total):
5; Vertebrae: 30 - 32. Diagnosis: body relatively
elongate; abdomen not greatly expanded, more or less
extensively darkly pigmented; sucker very large, longer
than broad (not transversely oval), extensively covered
with moderately large papillae; mandibular barbels
short but well-developed, usually papillose, with
up to 3 auxiliary mandibular barbels on each side
of lower lip; large premaxillary teeth in 3-4 rows;
mandibular teeth large, usually 4+4 or 5+5 (but some
with 7+7 or 8+8); eyes large; adipose fin long, its
origin considerably in advance of a vertical through
anal fin origin; caudal peduncle moderately slender
to very slender; caudal fin not deeply forked with
lobes rounded or even truncate, lower slightly longer
than upper. Colouration: Body with
dark bands fairly distinct; abdomen more or less darkly
pigmented, almost black in some specimens. Reproduction:
Oviparous. Distinct pairing during breeding.
Habitat: Coastal basins of Cameroon, including
Sanaga, Lokoundje, Kienke and Ntem rivers, Rio Mongo,
tributary of Mbini River, and Rio Muin in Equatorial
Guinea, and Ntem and Ivindo rivers in Gabon.
Aquarium Care: Good oxygenated water from
a power filter. Sand or gravel substrate with smooth
rocks or pebbles. Their dorsal and pectoral fins are
sharp and can cause wounds if not handled carefully.
Sexual Differences: Usually in the
form of a different shaped caudal fin. Diet:
In the aquarium feed algae foods, fly larvae foods,
bloodworm, and flake food. Etymology:
The specific name cameronensis: From Cameroon.
Remarks:
The species is widespread within the Central Africa
assessment region and is assessed as Least Concern
(IUCN 2009 needs updating).
Common
Name:
None
Synonyms:
None
Family:
Mochokidae
Distribution:
Western-central Africa:
Coastal rivers of Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, and
Gabon, Congo River basin. Type locality:
Efulen, South Cameroon.
Size:
4.5cm. (1¾ins)
Temp:
23-27°C (73-81°F)
p.H.
6.5-7.2.
Reference:
Breder, C.M. and D.E.
Rosen, 1966.
Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications,
Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Chiloglanis cameronensis; 1904.7.1.90-96e;
Chiloglanis cameronensis; type; ACSI. Collected in
Cameroon by The Trustees of the Natural History Museum,
London (licensed under creativecommons.org). Fermon, Y., J. Friel, H.H. Ng and D. De Weirdt,
2007. Mochokidae. p. 698-752. In M.L.J. Stiassny,
G.G. Teugels and C.D. Hopkins (eds.) The fresh and
brackish water fishes of Lower Guinea, West-Central
Africa. Volume I. Collection Faune et Flore tropicales
42. Institut de Recherche pour le Développement,
Paris, France, Muséum National d’Histoire
Naturelle, Paris, France, and Musée Royal de
l’Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, Belgium. 800 pp.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes,
recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and
catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628. Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors.
2023. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication.
www.fishbase.org, ( 10/2023 ). Gosse, J.-P., 1986. Mochokidae. p.
105-152. In J. Daget, J.-P. Gosse and D.F.E. Thys
van den Audenaerde (eds.) Check-list of the freshwater
fishes of Africa (CLOFFA). ISNB, Brussels, MRAC, Tervuren;
and ORSTOM, Paris. Vol. 2. Moelants, T. 2010. Chiloglanis cameronensis.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2010.
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